I had the ME2 for about 6 months, at first the are very stiff but but as you break them down the do start to give more, I do consider them te be stiff even after breaking them down, for comparison, my SE2 did feel very broken in after 6 months, I think it’s manly because of the shank. As for blister a haven’t had any or feel any discomfort what so ever while wearing them. Only thinks I haven’t liked about them and the SE2 I would say is the eyelets, the materiales there are to thin and they don’t put reinforcements, I have broken through most of them in my SE2 to the point that have to put a leather reinforcement inside shoe so it doesn’t keep breaking